Ok, if you’re not interested in a few random Things Pittsburgh, enjoy this video from Marie Brennan: have you hugged your rescued lion today?
But if you are Pittsburghly curious, March 20 has been designated “Won’t You Wear Your Sweater Day” in honor of what would have been Fred Rogers’ 80th Birthday. Mr. McFeeley is here to tell you more:
What, that wasn’t enough schmaltz for you? Ha. I hit you in the tear ducts now! Hee yah!
And because I’m from the town with the great football team, one more: Myron Cope, longtime Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster and possessed of the most bizarre yet infectious radio voice and personality, died Wednesday at the age of 79. Cope was a fantastic sportswriter and a color commentator for the Steelers radio broadcast for 35 years. Cope invented the Terrible Towel, which he talks about in the slightly bizarre ESPN video below. There are two Terrible Towels hanging in our house from the window shades in the living room, much to the dismay of houseguests unfamiliar with the Towel.
My Terrible Towels are in my bedroom- one on the wall above my bed, and one on my pillow.
Rest in peace Mr. Cope. Your legacy lives on!
I had a really crapalicious week in some ways, and watching the Mr. Rogers video made me all gooey.
I’m not sure what Myron was going on about but not only is his voice a complete trip, but he has one of the finest Pixburg Accents I’ve ever heard. It’s not a terrible towel. It’s a “turbel tahl.”
I miss Mr. Rogers. If you want to read a fabulous SF novel where he plays a role, read SHELTER by the amazing Susan Palwick. And if you want to follow up with another SF novel by her that has a wonderful love story, read THE NECESSARY BEGGAR.
Palwick’s a rising star in SF and is a writer to watch.
I loved Mr. Rogers. He always had a calming effect on me. Still does actually, after watching that video.
I remember meeting Mr. Rogers as a little girl and being totally intimidated. It was one of my three “shy” moments I’ve had. He sat down and we had a milk on the set of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Never fails to make me tear up whenever I see old videos.
The Terrible Towel is a thing of beauty. I have three – two at home and one hanging very proudly in my office here in Arizona. You can take the girl out of Pittsburgh but you can’t take the Pittsburgh outta the girl. (and hell, I don’t even like football. Go Pens!)
It’s funny, the ladies here at work were just talking about “Wear Your Sweater Day” (we’re a library north of Pittsburgh).
After seeing Mr. McFeeley’s video, we’ve now expanded it to a whole birthday party for Mr. Rogers on 3/20 – Pittsburgh themed of course (hey, we’re a bunch of librarians – we take fun were we can get it 😉 )
That sounds SO COOL. I wanna come! What are you going to do? Trolley cake? Sweaters? Primanti sandwiches with the french fries in the sandwich? Heck, Iron City beer?!
That’s such a great idea. Yinz rule n’at.
Damn you, woman. I’m all teary now. I’ve had a bit of a craptastic week, too, and Mr. Rogers saying “I like you just the way you are,” just about put me over the edge.
Shuffles off looking for the kleenex.
Seriously, isn’t that the best part? it’s stunningly refreshing, having him say, “It’s ok to have feelings and express them in healthy ways. I like you just the way you are.”
*sniffle*
Mr. Rogers saying, “I like you just the way you are” totally made me tear up. Now I’m grabbing the puffs plus and trying not to cry as it’ll start another coughing fit. What a nice video to see today. 🙂
E
Unlurking straight from the Burgh!!!! Great videos. Mr. Rodgers was a wonderful person, and a friend of my Father (a fellow minister). He made a huge impast on my life.
Myron Cope will be missed. I just watched the tribute rally for him on the news, and it brought tears to my eyes. Hundreds of people waving their towels in silence…wow.
*Impact*. I can’t type today.
Sarah, you bitch, you made me cry! Srsly; Mr. McFeeley was bad enough, but the second video put me right over the weeping edge.
Fortunately I’m a Colts’ fan, so the Steelers stuff gave me a good laugh after my cry.
I want to go to the librarians’ party, too. Instead, I’m going to organize my 20-something kids and their friends to participate in Wear a Sweater Day, complete with video to send in.
Can I just ditto all the sentiments expressed already about the McFeely and Mr. Rogers videos, since I’m all mushed up now and sniffly. “I like you just the way you are.” I think we all need to be told that.
Yeah, I need to know which library this is, too, so I can bring my towel and come join their party.
Oh Sarah!! You torpedoed me out of my self-imposed non-commenting state to wail about the death of Myron Cope. He was like a GOD in my family, where our blood ran black and gold (in Whitehall in the South Hills). He was held in an esteem saved for luminaries like Chuck Noll, Bill Cardill, and, of course, Mr. Rogers. Florida weather be damned, I shall dawn my best zip up sweater on March 20 and be neighborly like the Pittsburgh girl I will always be. Thanks.
Man, I don’t even have sound on my work computer and that totally made me teary eyed. I also loved Mr. Rogers. And even though I’ve never even been to Pittsburgh I am SO wearing a sweater on the 20th. It’s liable to be 80+ here in Tampa that day, so it’s going to be a very light sweater, but there will be a sweater none the less!
It makes me rather sad that my daughter won’t grow up with Mr. Rogers. His sedate, grandfatherly way of doing things is always such a great contrast to the hyper in-your-face shows that abound these days. I’ll miss that rad trolley and the trippy puppets and, most of all, I’ll miss the hope-filled bright world that Mr. Rogers showed us every day.
My family and I just walked in the door after an overnight to Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA. (A must for any Pgh family that likes to swim). And it is so nice to see all the love for the Burgh on the Board.
It took a lot of years to come to love the Burgh, but I really do like it now. My family is from Detroit, we moved here in 1978 and we just did not get Myron Cope at all. My Dad thought there was something developmentally wrong with him that he spoke that way. The only thing we liked about him was the call in show post game when you could listen to 2 people who talked like him argue about the Stillers.
These days its not attractive to be sporting a Burgh accent, but back in the day, it was a thing to behold.
PS Are the north Pgh librarians cmfortable giving out their location?
Mr. Rogers = awesome. I’ll wear my sweater!
The only three celebrities’ deaths that I ever cried over: Mr. Rogers, Michael Landon, and Christopher Reeve.
Yay, Pittsburgh videos! I’m from Pittsburgh but am at school across the country, so I love the home reminders. Mr. Rogers is the best. I love him so much. And of course, I have my Terrible Towel on my wall. Thanks for the videos!
“I like you just the way you areâ€
Sigh.
Ok. My day just improved dramatically.
Thanks.
Diane
Back in the 70’s, from when I was age 5 – 16, my family used to spend most Xmas (summer for us) vacations traveling in the US. I saw Mr Rogers and was addicted to its strangeness. I can still sing the Neighborhood song and used to love Mr Rogers coming in the door and getting changed. Vale Mr Rogers!